What: An “evening of natural glamour in black and white”—a.k.a. the Corcoran’s annual Fall Fête, hosted by the 1869 Society. Nonmember tickets ran $95, which got you an open bar, appetizers, a night of dancing in the Corcoran’s main hall, and the chance to peruse the current Ansel Adams and Annie Leibovitz photography exhibits.

Where: Corcoran Gallery of Art, 500 17th St., NW.

When: Saturday, November 10, 7 PM until midnight.

Who: Hundreds of young Washington art lovers—and those just there to look fabulous and dance and drink the night away. Plus plenty of members of the 1869 Society, the group of young professionals who hosted the event.

What: The 14th annual Knock-Out Abuse gala, benefiting the organization Knock Out Abuse Against Women. A $500 ticket included unlimited drinks, a three-course meal, and a surprise performance by Lenny Kravitz. Founders expect this year’s event to raise more than $700,000 to aid victims of domestic violence.

Karl Rove took the stage Thursday afternoon at DC’s Willard InterContinental hotel to discuss the pros and cons of the Internet at an invitation-only event held by Yahoo to educate Washington political types about the value of online political activity. One of Rove’s main points—that the Internet creates a dangerous society of spectacle where every political moment is recorded for instant consumption and critique—was realized as audience members live-blogged, Twittered (a form of new media similar to blogging but shorter in form), and took photos for instant proliferation throughout the Web.


During a cocktail reception after the talk, Rove instant-messaged a liberal activist he had criticized during his speech, dished on the 2004 campaign, and learned that live blogging of the event had already attracted attention from the Republican National Committee.


If the point of the Yahoo Summit—where former senator Max Cleland also spoke—was to educate the political elite about the nature of politics online, some in the audience clearly already had their PhDs. Perhaps some of the key players in Mark Warner’s and Howard Dean’s former campaigns didn’t need to hear Yahoo employees advise them to make sure “your candidate is in the mouth of citizen 2.0.” Citizen 2.0 apparently refers to those interested in online politics. Others in the audience who represented various associations struggling to figure out the Internet seemed to find the presentation helpful.


However, the real draw was a chance to see “Bush’s brain”—as Rove has been dubbed—expound on what happens when the Internet meets politics. Here’s what the political consultant who helped win two presidential elections and worked on several more—adopting cutting-edge technologies along the way—had to say.


On the nature of politics online:


• The Internet changes the mechanics and logistics of politics, not its larger purpose.
• The person who masters politics online will have figured out how to convince undecided voters to support  their candidate.

• Bloggers and other online writers have distance from their discourse and are enabled to say malicious things they wouldn’t say in person or in a letter. Often these authors can be completely anonymous.
 
• Online vulgarity and profanity threaten to undermine efforts to convince undecided voters, because these people are turned off by coarse language and hyperpartisanship.

• The nature of inexpensive online publishing and other new media ensures that everything a candidate does is recorded; this constant surveillance threatens to damage our political system by catching good candidates in normal moments of human weakness.
 
• The 24/7 news cycle is enhanced by the Internet, and fact-checking and accuracy are sacrificed by the    media in the race to get a story first.

• Online, the proportions of events are skewed in relation to reality such that these events have a short life on the Internet; although they can dominate the political chattering class’s attention for a short period, such events often fade in political relevance as time moves on.


On the opposing party:
 

• Democrats and Republicans are both harnessing the political elements of the Internet, but Democrats are better at talking about it. 

• Rove really did want Howard Dean to be the Democratic nominee in 2004 (as he was quoted saying in a Time magazine article).

• The Republican strategist had an ad ready to go if Dean became the nominee. It highlighted excerpts from a speech Dean had given at the California State Democratic Convention in March 2003: “I want my country back! We want our country back! I am tired of being divided! I don’t want to listen to the fundamentalist preachers anymore!” The ad—relying on Dean’s own words—caused the Dean campaign “to be over” because it portrayed the candidate in such a bad light according to Rove’s focus group research. 

• When Dean touted his 600,000-member e-mail list in the 2004 primary, Rove noted, Republicans already had a 6.2-million-member Bush-Cheney list.

• Ned Lamont’s campaign was a giant failure of the liberal online community.


Other interesting tidbits:


• Rove criticized MoveOn.org’s Tom Matzzie for boasting that an antiwar group would end the war. Later, the two IM’d on a T-Mobile Sidekick provided by Clay Johnson, a Democratic Internet consultant and friend of the antiwar leader. According to Clay, Rove wrote to Matzzie: “This is rove and I did take your name in vain.” He then mysteriously added, “Have enjoyed listening to your [MoveOn?] calls!”

• Rove has an iPhone.

• His favorite blogs include the Wall Street Journal’s Best of the Web and Instapundit. He couldn’t recall      visiting the largest blog, Boingboing.net.

• In another meta moment, an RNC staffer located Michael Bassik, who drafted a live blog post for         TechPresident to let him and Rove know that folks were e-mailing back and forth about the post at the   RNC.
 

Check out TechPresident’s writeup of the event (which got the attention of the RNC) here.
 

View a photo from an iPhone of attendee Kyle Stoneman below.

Want to see more photos from Washington events and parties? Click here for Washingtonian.com's photo slideshow page. 

Washington's well heeled came out last night for The Washingtonian's Best-Dressed Party at Agraria in Georgetown. With a gleaming Rolls Royce Phantom parked outside the door, this year's most stylish men and women, along with honorees from years' past, mingled, chatted, sipped Snow Queen Vodka cocktails and Rotari Champagne and, of course, checked out what everybody else was wearing. Among the attendees were such best-dressed women as Joyce Neave, Rachel Cothran, and Melody Barnes. The men with style included Winston Lord, Franco Nuschese of Cafe Milano, and more, with last year's honoree Philippe Cousteau joining in the fun. Check out our photo slide show of the evening. Photographs by Jennifer Smoose.

If you’re reading this, you’re most likely sitting a heated home or office. Chances are you’ve recently eaten and in a few more hours will have another satisfying meal. On November 22, you’ll sit down for the biggest banquet of the year—Thanksgiving. You’ll consume platefuls of turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and pumpkin pie and still have leftovers at the end of the day.

This Thanksgiving, take a moment to remember those who aren’t so fortunate. Helping Washington’s disadvantaged is made easy by a variety of organizations. Donating even a small amount of time or money can make a big difference to those who are hungry. 

BREAD FOR THE CITY
breadforthecity.org | 202-386-7606
What: Two centers (in DC’s Shaw and Anacostia) that offer medical care, social services, legal advice, food, and clothing. Each client participates in an intake interview and from there is referred to one or more programs. More than 10,000 DC residents receive help each month.

CAPITAL AREA FOOD BANK
capitalareafoodbank.org | 202-526-5344
What: The largest public nonprofit hunger and nutrition education resource in Washington, distributing 20 million pounds of food annually.
Upcoming events: Second Annual Bringing in the Birds With Bucks, which sponsors holiday meals for 2000 senior citizens in the area. Many seniors who are on limited incomes and live alone will receive a turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, corn, green beans, and dessert.

DC CENTRAL KITCHEN
dccentralkitchen.org | 202-234-0707
What: A central location to recover and redistribute unused food, prepare and deliver meals to social service agencies, and train homeless individuals for the food-service industry.
Upcoming events: Save freezer space and give a “virtual turkey.” Money will go to buying specific foods delivered when and where they’re needed. Every dollar donated will be matched by XM Satellite Radio. 

DINNER PROGRAM FOR HOMELESS WOMEN
dphw.org | 202-737-9311
What: An independent, nonprofit organization serving hot, nutritious meals to the homeless and poor of DC since 1979. Guests are provided meals, showers, laundry, mail, telephone and computer access, toiletries, vitamins, transportation tokens, and clothing.
Upcoming events: Help the Homeless Walkathon on the Mall, November 17 at 9 AM (7 AM registration).

SO OTHERS MIGHT EAT (SOME)
some.org | 202-797-8806
What: An interfaith, community-based organization that helps Washington’s poor by providing food, clothing, healthcare, affordable housing, job training, addiction treatment, and counseling.
Upcoming events: Sixth Annual Thanksgiving Day Trot for Hunger. Join honorary chair DC mayor Adrian Fenty to help the homeless and hungry on Thanksgiving morning. The 5K fun run and family walk begins in the District’s West Potomac Park and benefits SOME’s programs for the homeless. November 22, 8:30 AM.

What: A typical Saturday night at Tabaq Bistro—with the exception of a few NHL stars roaming the dance floors. The Washington Capitals and District Trust Charities sponsored the party, with proceeds benefiting Children’s National Medical Center.

A six-foot-two defenseman from Calgary, Canada, Mike Green was drafted by the Capitals in the first round of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.

Where: Tabaq Bistro, 1336 U St., NW.

When: Saturday, November 3, 10 PM to 2 AM.

Who: Less than 24 hours after falling to the Philadelphia Flyers by one goal, the Washington Capitals were in a very celebratory mood. Center Brooks Laich, who said he was still feeling inspired by the team’s visit to Children’s on October 15, arrived at Tabaq with defensemen Mike Green and Steve Eminger at 9:30.

“When we went to the hospital three weeks ago, it really hit home, just talking to the families and seeing how everyone perseveres,” Laich said. “It’s awesome being able to help out and meet some people involved behind the scenes who don’t get enough credit.”

Food: The kitchen was closed at this Mediterranean restaurant.

Drink: Bartenders kept busy in three locations: on the main level, in the more intimate basement, and on the glass-enclosed terrace. An open bar was located in the VIP lounge, but a $100 wristband was required for access.

Pickup line of the night: “Are you Christie’s boyfriend?” “No, I’m not.” “Oh, well, you’re much cuter than him anyway.”

Scene: Laich, Green, and Eminger were quite approachable, posing for pictures and schmoozing with partygoers throughout the night. The three converged on the main level at midnight with District Trust Charities president Brendan Shields and Children’s coordinator of special events Grace Easby-Smith and an hour later took off for their Ballston homes.

“I don’t go out to party much in this area,” Eminger said, “but it’s a really cool bar and a really great atmosphere.”

So what do three NHL players in their early twenties drink on a boys’ night out? When asked, Capitals director of community relations Elizabeth Wodatch quickly stepped in, squinched her face as if anxiously awaiting major test results, and said, “Can you write ‘water’?” Of course, Liz, but only because this was a charitable event.

In total, more than $8,000 was raised for the Children’s National Medical Center and its Kids Care Fund.

“Anytime you can help out kids, it’s great—whether at schools or hospitals or community centers,” Green said. “I’m in the position to help out and give back, and it’s a great feeling.”

Ratings (out of 5):

Boldface names: 2
Swankiness: 2
Food and drink: 1
Exclusivity: 1
Total score (out of 20): 6